Riassunto
This text emphasizes the ecological processes that influence community organization and ecosystem function in running waters. After providing an introduction to the physical and chemical circumstances of running water, there is an analysis of the biology and ecology of these systems, covering the following topics: the ecological role of autotrophic and heterotrophic energy producers; the trophic ecology of consumer organisms in lotic food webs; the community ecology of flowing waters, including herbivory, predation and competition, and their integration with abiotic factors in determining community organization; downstream drift; the dynamics of organic matter and of elements, including the concepts of mass balance and spiralling; the effects of humans on river systems; management and conservation of rivers and their biota. This book is intended to be of use to undergraduates, researchers and specialists in stream ecology and related fields.
Recensione
`To bring structure and function in a unifying framework is a hard but challenging aim. In the increasing vast mass of scientists motivated to write a book, I welcome any ecological contribution in which the author keeps that combination in mind. ... I not only recommend this text to students and teachers, but also to general readers for easily deepening their understanding of the field.'
Crustaceana
`... it is bound to become a popular text ... my students will be reading it ...'
Journal of Ecology
`Allan provides us with a wealth of information ... summarizing a range of material not found elsewhere. His book provides an excellent introduction to the area ...'
Limnol. Oceanogr. Journal of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
`... Allan has done an admirable job of preparing a clearly written, well-referenced, and very readable book that summarizes most of the pertinent literature in stream ecology that has been published since Hynes' (1970) book.'
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
`There is no question that David Allan has provided an unusually lucid and judicious reassessment of the state of stream ecology.'
Science
`... is intended to serve both as a text for undergraduate and postgraduate students and as a reference book for specialists. It would seem to succeed in both aims ... The text is clear and concise and is illustrated by excellent diagrams. Examples are drawn from all over the world, and the 35 pages of references testify to the author's grasp of the literature.'
J.CIWEM
`So I wish to congratulate David Allan on a difficult job very well done, and to announce to the limnological world that we now have an excellent up-to-date text on running waters.'
The North American Benthological Society
`... an easily-read, yet comprehensive, introduction to the ecology of running water systems.'
Aquaculture
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